Indorsing device for voting-machines.



W. J. LAUSTERER.

INDORSING DEVICE FOR VOTING MACHINES. APyLIoATIoN FILED JUNE 5, i908.RBNBWBD DBO. e, 1909.

950, 1 56. Patented Feb. 22, 1910.r

2 SHEETS--SHBET 1.

VIII/l W. J. LAUSTERER.

INDORSING DEVICE FOR VOTING MAGHINES. APPLIOATION FILED numey 196s.BENEWBD DB0.- e, 1909.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.',

ron ron CORONERS CONSTAELES u". n vw. van van -rm l5 v I6 l5 A A A JONES4.0, WORK |5 1.6 I8 D D D :an 16u y |70 I8 D a, Fun/LER H. CHASEEsmll-ZY Zig-6. 3y

hm/Zag@ ad ATTORNEY.

' interfere with or restrict the operation showing the pin roller usedin'the'iirst and.

'UNITED sTArEs PATENT onialion.v

lILl'iIAll/l J'. LAUSRER, 0F JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO'EMPIRE'VO'.llIN'Q-l` MACHINE COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER AND JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, ACORPOBA:

'rIoN oF NEW YORK.

INDORSING'DEVICE FOR VOTING-MACHINES.-

' Anulication led'June, 1.908, Serial No. 436,910. Renewed December 6,1909. Serial No.' 531,.,690.y

To all whom it may concern.'

Be itknown that'I, WILLIAM J. LAUS- 'rnREa, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing vat Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in IndorsingDevices for Voting-Machines, of which. the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in voting machines, moreespecially of the type described for example in my prior patent 820,802.

The improvement forming the subject matter of this application is anindorsed candidate interlock which is built into the machine as apermanent part thereof, butwhich isnormally disconnected from theoperating parts of the machine so as not to thereof, the parts being soarranged that whenever an ilndorsed candidate occurs in a multicandidategroup, the particular voting devices belonging to such indorsedcandidate may be interlocked specially against each other', so that onlyone of said voting devices may be placed in voted position. Thisauxiliary interlock is in duplicate so that the keys of the indorsedcandidate may be. controlled by the interlocking parts of either system,with connections so arranged that the wedge of either system ofauxiliary interloeks can be connected to the keys sought to beinterlocked, so that said key will not only be interlocked by themaininterlocking system of the machine but by the auxiliary interlock aswell. It necessary any one or more of said keys can be locked by both of.the auxiliary interlocks in addition to the main interlock.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a vertical cross section ofthe power part of the machine, showing the main interlock and the ltwoauxiliary interlocks. Fig. 2 shows a portion ot the keyboard comprisingtwo Imult'icandidate groups with indorsed candidates therein. Fig. 3 isa detail perspective view of a key with its main interlocking strap soshaped as to provide for the necessary connections with the auxiliaryinterlocks. Fig. 4 isa detail showing the solid interlocking rollersused in vall the interlocking channels. Fig.l 5 isa detail thirdchannels. Fig. 6 is a. detail showing the pin roller used in the middlechannel ot' those shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross sectionof the auxiliary interlocking channels and rollers, taken'` on line 7.-7in Fig. 8, the pin being shown on 'full line. Fig. 8 is a sideelevation` of the auxiliaryinterlocking channels and straps, looking atthem from the rear of the machine.

Similar reference numeralsy in the several figures in dicate similarparts.

The indicator keys' 1 are pivotally sup-l ported in the front plate f2,and have con; nected to them at the rear end interlocking strap 3terminating in the interlocking wedge 4. This wedge engages with therollers 5 carried in the interlocking channel 6, all of whichconstruction is substantiallythe same as that. shown in'my -prior patent793,666.-

In my present invention-the grouping pins 7, which engage with 'pinrollers placed at predetermined intervals in` the channel, passthroughthe rollers and channel from the front of the machine. That is,they are inserted in their proper place from the front of the machineand not from theback of the machine, and to permit a longitudinalltravel ofthe interlocking channel, which may be sometimes necessary asisdescribed in my former patent 793,666, I cut a slot in the Jfront platerunning from one end of the machine to the other, so that the pins whenplaced in the interlocking lchannel may travel sidewise through saidslot with the interlocking channel and without interfering with themovement of it. To prevent manipulation of these pins by anyunauthorized person, I cover or protect them with a ho'od 8 pivoted to9. This hood can be locked up against the front plate of the machine inany suitable manner .that will hold it securely against tampering .andstill permit it to be turned down by the proper otticial to permit easvaccess to the grouping pin, y

To permit inspection Aof the grouping pms when the hood is in lockedposition, may provide that the front of it` 10 consist of a narrow stripof 'glass' through which the grouping pins can easily be seen.

On each of the interlockinfr straps 3 is carried a plate 11,to each ofwhich are riveted the pins or studs 12 and 13. Engaging With'th'especificati@ or I .etters Patent. Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

1.2 is `free to move up and down in the vertical arm of the slot 141without disturbing the position of the strap 15. This pin, of course,will move up and down with the Strap 3 ofiwhichA it is an in'tegralpart. It,

"however, the strap 15 is moved to the right so that the horizontal ar-mof the sl'otA 111' engages with the pin 127 thepstrapl will then move uand' down with the strap 3, because it w1ll then be positively engagedthere-With. The strap 15 can be. held in either ofy these two positionsby thelink 16. This link has cut thereinA on its under side at its righthand end,I two notches 19 and 20. Carried on suitable standards 17 inthe machine is a Abar 18. It' the notch 19 inthe link 16 engages withthe bar 18 the strap lti'will be-held positively in position so as notto be disturbed by the vertical movement of the pin 12. If the notch 20.however, engages with the bar 18, the strap 15 will be pulledto theIright, so that the horizontall portion of the slot 1-t will bepositively engaged with the pin 12 and will be moved up and'down by itas it is moved by the strap Rivcted to the strap 15 a pin 21, and thelink 16 has a loose engagement therewith by means of the slot 22 stampedin link 16. This loose engagement is made lnecessary because thedistance between centers ofthe notches 19 and 2O is greater than themovement of the pin 12 in the horizontal part of the slot 11. and themovement which the link 16 must make inexcess of the lateral movementthat. is permitted to the, strap is compensated for by the looseconnection between the link 1G 21. It will -be understood. ,of there isone of these auxiliary and the pin course, that interlocking' straps 15for each main interlocking strapl 3 in themachine, although if advisable.I may only provide these auxiliary interlocking straps for thekeys andinterlocking straps of a single office line. or for the keys andinterlocking straps of a plurality of single oHice lines. it beingunderstood that the principal use to which these auxiliarv interlocking'straps will be put is when the main interlocking straps and their keysare combined in a, multi-candidate Q'roup in which occur indorsedcandidates. The auxiliary interlocking straps 15 each terminate inawedge 21 interlocked by interlocking rollers 25 similar to thosecarried iu the main interlocking channel. except as hereinafterdescribed.

Pin rollers are provided in the auxiliary interlocking channel atregular intervals, and these pin rollers are held in place in the mannerwhich I will nowdescribe. The pin rollers in question are provided with'trunnions such., as are shown` in Figs. 6 and T. The plates making upthe side of the auxiliary channel 35 are pierced at suitable intervalswith holes large enough to receive the trunnions of the pin rollers 3G.vThe solid rollers and pin rollers are assembled inthe channel35-inproper order with the pin rollers placed with their trunnionsengaging4 with the holes in side plates of `the channel. These trunnionsare then slightly flattened' outY sothat they-act as rivetshold` ing thesides of the channel together. In so riveting the pin roller thepinholeis lett unobstructed so-that it will' receive the end of thegrouping pin when it is used in the adjacent channel. In this w'ay thepin rollers of the channel 35 are always held rigidly in place with theintermediate solid rollers be.- tween them and' sutlicient space isallowed between the rollers of each office line in this channel to pullin one of the auxiliary interlocking wedges 21 and no more. TWhile the'wedges and rollers in the main interlocking channel may be combined intoa multicandidate group comprising two o1' more otlice lines, it is theintention that the corresponding straps and wedges of the auxiliaryinterlocking channel will always remain divided into single oice linesso that of the wedges interlocked thereby only one wedge can be drawn tovoted position in each ottice line. If now in the multicandidate groupestabished on the main interlock, two or more keys are found to belongto the same candidate, it will be noticed that both of such keys can bevoted for the candidate .so indorsed, thus giving two votes to thatcandidate when the voter should be restricted to but one. In order toprevent this deficient?)l of the main interlock, all that is necessaryto do is to connect the auxiliary straps to the main interlocking strapsbelonging to the keys ofthe indorsed candidate, so that when the maininterlocking straps are lifted their auxiliary straps will be lifted aswell. As the auxiliary interlock prevents more than one wedge' beingmoved to voted position.

it will prevent voting twice for the indorsed candidate. lIt will beunderstood that the keys of the multi-candidate group which do not haveindorsed candidates will remain disconnected from their auxiliaryinterlockingT straps, so thatthe auxiliary strap will remain quiet whenthe main interlocking strap is raised and lowered.

It sometimes occurs in a single office line that two indorsed candidatesoccur therein. In such case the second set of auxiliary interlockingstraps 28 Aand their wedges 2t) 1 can be used. These straps areconnected to 125 the main interlocking strap '3 at the pin 13 in thesame way that the straps l5 are connected to the straps 3 at the pin 12.They are also controlled so as to be connected to or disconnected fromthe-pin 13 by means of, 130

anonce Va link 3() correswonding substantially to link 16which. link .30is provided with notches 31. and 32, either of which can engage withnel..

the bar 33 to hold the link 30 in either of two positions Similar tothose'- described. in

connection with link'` 16. The wedges 29 of the second set of auxiliary.interlocking strapsiriterlock with the rollers 34 carried in ,thesecond auxiliary interlocking chan- As shown in Figs. 1 and '7, Ithe two,channels for the auxiliary interlock are builtside by side and are soplaced that the group- Itall the names of a single indorsed can- Vdidate occur in the same office line, eitheroi't the auxiliaryinterlocks can be used as above described, but as sometimes happens thenames' of 'an indorsedcadidate/ are placedl n1 two ad]acent otiicel1nes.In such a case connectionsmust'be made with the wedges of the auxiliaryinterlock carried in the outer channel as above described, selecting thewedges belonging tothe keys of the indorsed candidate as his name Occursin thev two or. more oiiice lines of the group. In such case thegrouping pin that holds the intermediate 'roller between the two oilicelines 'in the outer auxiliary interlock must be withdrawn, leaving theintermediate roller to travel as it 'would in a multicandidate group.This, 'however, will permit the voting of two wedges in 4that particulargroup, and to pre-n vent this I would use in the auxiliary intervso locka compensator similar to that shown in my application No. 281,875 (seeFig. '8) or any other suitable device that would takeup the lost spaceso as-to prevent the voting of the second wedge therein. In this way itis. possible to apply thisauxiliary interlock to an indorsed 'candidatewhere the name ot'` said indorsed candidate occurred in. two ad,- jacentoilice lines, or in two' or more oilice lines that were separate to agreater or less extent. Itwill thus be seen that the extra interlock forthe indorsed candidate is built into Jthe machine and is always readyfor use as indicated by the ballot labels on the machine and needs noother adjustment-than the simple connecting up of the auxiliaryinterlocking wedges' to the keys that belongv t'o the indor'sedcandidate so thatbu'tlone of said keys lcan befvoted. p

Carried on the standard 17 are the lock-- ing bars 40 and'41, whichengagewith the links 16 and 80 respectively and hold them llocked ineither position in' which'they have been'placed as, abovefdescribed.Each of these bars is mounted toy swing on an axis near its upper edge.VConnected to the upper bar is the handle 42 by which it may be raised.This handle when turned down I in close en ga gement..`

straps, a plurality of auxiliary interlocking holdsl the bar 40. frombeing swung vout of.

locking position, and while in this position l the links 16 cannot bedisengaged from the bar l18'. The handle 42 also bears against the bar41 and prevents it from being swung up as well. The bar 41 bears againsta stud 44' on the standard 17 which prevents'it from being swungrearwardly s o that'between the stud 44 and the handle 42 the bar 41 isheld In order to hold the handle 42 in'its locking position, a lug 42vis formed thereon whlch may be made suiiiciently long so that' when thelower back door of the machine is closed ,the handle 42 cannot be raisedfar enough to permit the releasing of the links 16 and BOL Il claim asmy invention as follows:

1. In` a-voting-'machine a plurality of keys with a grouping interlockcomprising wedges vor spaces therefor common to all of said keys, aplurality of indorsing interlocking gwedges for each key all formingpart of the permanent structure and means for connect-V ing .to ordisconnectingfroni the key at will,

one or both of the indorsing wedges.

2. Ina voting machine -a plurality of keys with a grouping vinterlocktherefor comprisin er interlocking wedges and straps, a. plu- Iity ofstuds mounted on each of said straps,each having a right angled slottherein by which each of .said straps engages its stud, the upperend ofeach of said auxiliary straps being capable oiv botha longitudinalmovement and a Swingin which each of said auxillary straps can ,moveindependently of its main interlock or can be locked to it to move inunison there.

with. l

l3. A plurality of keys each having a main 'interlocking strap connectedthereto, studsA mounted on said strap, a plurality of auxil.

iary interlocking straps for eachkey engaging with said stud. to movelongitudinal y therewith or to move independently vthereof for alimited: distance, and means for positively holding saidstraps in theone position' or the other.

4. Ina voting machine three rows of parallel interlocking straps,connectionsv between the straps of one of these rows and nections beingadjustable to'leave the straps movement by the straps of the other tworows, said vcon-l of the first row free tonlove independent of '4 thestraps of the other two rows, lor to con- "nect the straps of the firstrow tomove in unison with. the straps of either or both of the otherrows. l

5. In a voting machine interlock, ainain' interlocking strapv movablelongitudinally',

y.having a stud thereon, an auxiliary stra having a slot therein-toengage J with sai- ,stndin either 'of two positions, in vone of 'whichpositions both straps will move' longitudinally together, and in 'theother position,

i having a stud thereon,

which positions both straps will move longi-4 tudinally together, and inthe other position the main strap will move independent of the auxiliarystrap, and a lock for positively v holding said auxiliary strap ineither of said positions.

7. In a'voting machine interlock a plurality of series of longitudinallymovable interlocking straps forming apermanent part of the machine,means for positively iinparting the Imotion of the straps-in one of theseries to the corresponding. straps in the other series, said meansbeing adjustable to permit the free -movement of the one series ofstraps without disturbing the p osition of the straps in the otherseries.

8. In a voting machine interlock, a main interlocking strap and anauxiliary interlocking strap permanently engaged therewith, both of saidstraps beingvcapable of longitudinal movement, being capable ofadjustment to two positions, in one of which positions it will-be movedpositively bythe main strap and in its other position the main strapwill be free to move without it.

9. In a voting machine interlock, a main interlocking strapand anauxiliary interlockin strap permanently engaged therewith, both of saidstraps being capable of longitudinal movement, said auxiliary strapbeing'capable of adjustment to two positions, in one of which positionsitr will be moved positively by the main'strap and in its other positionthe main strap will be free to move without it, and means for lockingsaid auxiliary.

' positions.

l0. In a voting machine interlock, a main interlocking strap and anauxiliary interlocking strap permanently engaged therewith, both of saidstraps being capable of longitudinal movement, said auxiliary strabeingv capable of adjustment to two;y osi-l tions, in one of whichpositions it wil be moved positively by the main strap and in its otherposition the main'strap lwill be free to'inove without it, and means forlocking said auxiliary strap in either of the two positions` said meansconsisting of a link connected to said auxiliary strap' having-twonotches therein. a stationary bar with which said notches can engage tohold said strap in either of its two positions.

l1. In a voting inachineinterlock, a main interlocking strap and anauxiliaryinterlocking strap permanently engaged therewith, both of-saidstraps being` capable of abutments, said said auxiliary strap/istrap ineither of the two longitudinal movement, said auxiliary stra beingcapable of adjustment to two positions,'in one of whichv positionsitwill bemoved positively bythe main strap and in its' other position themain strap will be free t'o move without it, Aand means for locking saidauxiliary strap in either of the two positions, said means consisting ofa link connected to said auxiliary strap having two nochestherein, astationary bar with which said lnotches can engage to hold saidA strapin either of its two positions, a slotted connection between the linkand its strap.

,12. The combination of interlocking abutinents having endsformed withtruiinions, intermediate spacing devices, an interlocking channel tosupportsaid abutments, and spacing devices, said channel being piercedat suitable intervals to receive said trunnions to support saidabutments.

13. The combination of interlocking' abutments, projections formed onthe ends there` of, an-,interlocking channel to support said channelbeing pierced at suitable intervals to receive said trunnions tosupport-said abutments.

14. The combination of a pair ot' interlocking channels separated by adividing plate, 'stationary abutments supported by the one channel, saidabutinents having piojections thereon, and said 'ch`aniiel being piercedat suitable intervals to receive said projections, each of saidabutments. being piercedto receive a grouping pin from theadjacent'ch'annel. j

15. The combination of a pair of interlocking channels separated by adividing plate,`stationary abutments supported by the onechannel, andsaid abutments having, projections thereon, and said channel beingpierced at suitable'intervals to receive said projections,- each of said,abutments beingpierced to receive a grouping pin from the adjacentChannel, movable abutments supported by the adjacentchannel and groupingpins therefor` by which said movable abutments may be made stationarywith respect to lthetchannels 16." The combination in a voting machine'of a casing, including ai front plate, an interlocking channel mountedwithin the casing adjacent to said front plate, Lsaid channel holdingthe parts of an interchangeable interlock, grouping pins, forcontrolling said interlock, an ,opening -through the frontplatetthroug'h which said pins engage said interlock, a removable coverplata for "said grouping pins holding said pms in place..

17.- The combination in a voting machine of acasing, including a frontplate,.an in-l terlocking channel mounted within said casing adjacent tosaid yfrontplate, said channel holding the parts of an interchangeableinterlock, grouping pins for controlling said interlock, a slot throughthe front plato ias tlirougliivvhich said pinsengage-said interlock, atransparent hood for exposing said pins and/holding them in place.

18. 1n a voting machine interlocK, a'rnain' interlocking Strap and@plurality ofauxll- 1 lary interlocking straps permanentlylenga-gedtherewith,y alibi said straps being positively.V by- 'ca'pable "oflongitudinal movement, each of said auxiliary straps 'beingcapable of adyi0 jnstinent .to two positions, in one of which ,positions theauxiliary' strap. will be moved the main strap', "and inthe otherposition the main to lmove Without it.

151i. -An adjusting mechanisni for' an inter-f lolzkconsisting'of a bar,a* plurality of links each ofwhich has @plurality of notches thereon.whereby nit niay enga. e said bar `in aplurality ofpositions, and a'ocking device common toV said. links "to l'holdthe'm insuch engagedposition 2O.` An adjusting mechanism for an interv lock consistingofabar, a plurality of links strap ,'Will be 4*freie qftthlof which has 'aplurality ffnotche's thereon. Whereb7 it mayA engagesaid bar in .ap-lnralityof positions,`. and a locking. de-

vice coni-mon to said links to hold them suchengaged position, and meanslfor. re-

stricting the movement of said locking de- Y vice..A

2l. vThecombinationin a voting machine of a plurality of keys, apluralitypf inter' locking devices for each.- key forming lpartofnthepermanent structure, any? 'or all of said` devices being capable ofbeing rendered inoperative at will, .the operation of4 each of.

said keys being capable vof being controlled by either one or part orall offits' interlock-.

ing devices;

Iirtestimony whereof I'alfx niy'signature` in 'presence off-two,witnesses.-

